As Jersey City resident Tony Susco said on the last day of the All Points West Music and Arts Festival in Jersey City, “Welcome to All Points Wet.”
It was an apt description of the three-day event last weekend (July 31 – Aug. 2), which was besieged by rain. Still, thousands of people converged on Liberty State Park to see performances by top music acts including Jay-Z, Coldplay, and Tool, along with a host of up-and-coming bands, comics, and displays of eccentric art.
The intemperate weather led Coldplay’s Chris Martin, when he took the stage at All Points West’s final day, to commend concert goers for trucking along in what he called a “mud Jacuzzi.” The festival’s last day also was delayed for four hours due to severe thunderstorms, and ticket holders were told to wait out the bad weather at the Liberty State Park ferry terminal.
Spirits weren’t dampened, however, as people danced in the muddy field near each of the three festival stages, or just simply enjoyed the music.
Christine Goodman, founder of Jersey City’s Art House Productions, ran a booth for her theater company.
“I think it is great to have All Points West in Jersey City because it is a great reason to be proud of Jersey City,” said Goodman, who also had the chance to listen to her favorites Gogol Bordello, Arctic Monkeys, and Tool.
Miguel Peralta, a 27-year-old resident of Jersey City, summed up the All Points West experience: “The festival was big fun and the atmosphere was awesome.”
The day after the festival, crews took down the tents erected for All Points and began restoring a lawn in dire need of landscaping. Sam Pesin, president of The Friends of Liberty State Park (FOLSP), who called All Points West “a very positive cultural event” reminiscent of Woodstock 1969 (which he attended), said AEG Live and Liberty Event Management, the organizers of All Points West, “have the contractual responsibility to restore the lawn to the way it was before the event.” FOLSP will also get a portion of the ticket sales.
Music by the big three
The first day was headlined by superstar rapper Jay-Z, a last minute replacement for the Beastie Boys, who had to cancel after longtime member Adam Yauch announced he had cancer. Jay-Z in turn paid tribute to the Beastie Boys when he opened his concert with their classic, “No Sleep Til’ Brooklyn,” to a loud ovation by thousands of festival goers.
“The festival was big fun and the atmosphere was awesome.” – Miguel Peralta
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On the second day, despite arriving on stage 20 minutes late, Grammy-winning featured act Tool mesmerized the crowd with their moody sound and delightfully frightening visuals. The progressive/dark metal band’s 90-minute set – which included an encore performance to the delight of fans – featured songs such as “Aenima” and “Lateralus,” accompanied by a stunning stage setting and laser show. There was also a video display on the platform’s two large side screens that featured zombie-like men and dire situations such as a sea of mutilated heads bobbing up and down along with the band’s music.
On the final day, Coldplay performed for screaming fans as yellow balloons floated in the crowd, lasers flashed, and images played behind them on a jumbo screen. The audience sang along to their hits like “Viva la Vida.”
Crowd rains down on festival
Attendees came from far and wide to enjoy the top acts as well as burgeoning groups such as The Silversun Pickups, We Are Scientists, the Chicago rap duo The Cool Kids, and Kentucky indie band Cage the Elephant.
Steve Gold, a resident of Jersey City’s Hamilton Park area, was photographing for a local website while keeping his 20-year old daughter company. He checked out lesser-known groups such as Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend.
“It was a fun atmosphere, and fun people,” Gold said. “When you are enjoying the music, it seems like you are getting energy from out of nowhere.”
Taryn Beckett, 20, from Bergen County, came with her sister and her friends for the entire weekend to take in the music and also to work one of the many lemonade stands. She came to see Tool and Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs.
“Cool, but a little wet, but fun to be here for my first time,” Beckett said.
Samantha Santasiero from Lodi offered her All Points West perspective on its final day.
“This is my first All Points West [festival and] I thought it was awesome, minus the schedule changes for today,” Santasiero said. “The lineup was perfect. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs was my favorite performance. I love the rain, it made it more interesting. I’ll definitely never forget how much rain it was.”
Cecilia Martinez and Tricia Tirella also contributed to the article.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.